Amusement device.



PATENTED MAR. 10, 1908.

G- B. POST. AMUSEMENT DEVICE. AIPLIGATIONTILED 00T.21, 1907.

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mirrn screens PATENT oreien.

CHARLES B. POST, OF NEW LONDON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WARD-STILSONCOMPANY, OF NEW LONDON, OHIO.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 10, 1908.

Application filed October 21, 1907. Serial No. 398,437.

To all whom it may concern.

Beit known that I, OHARLEsB. POsT, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at New London, in the county of Huron and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AmusementDevices; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in amusement devices.

The object of this invention is to provide a device, by means of which ablank cartridge or the like may be exploded which will be durable inconstruction and safe in operation.

My invention, therefore, consists in providing a device of the characterindicated having such an arrangement of parts that a blank cartridgecarried thereby will be exploded by bringing the device in contact withanother body and providing means carried by said device for cushioningthe impact of said device.

My invention also consists in the features of construction andcombination of parts as described in the specification, pointed out inthe claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows a front view of my device.Fig. 2 shows a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear view. Fig. 4 isan enlarged detail view of a portion of the device showing the mechanismin its normal position. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the position ofthe mechanism when the device is brought into contact with another body.

In the accompanying drawings 1 repre sents a flat head which ispreferably formed of wood or some other light material and 2 representsa handle portion which is integral therewith forming what may be termeda paddle. On the face of the head 1 is arranged a quantity of hair orother upholstering material 3 which is held thereon by a covering ofleather or other suitable fabric 4. The covering is secured to the headat the side edges thereof so that the padded or upholstered portion ofthe head is free'from any projections which might produce injuries orabrasions. In the rear face of the head and preferably at the centerthereof is formed a socket 6. In the socket 6 is arranged a casing 7having a flange 8 which is secured to the head by screws 9. In thebottom of the casing 7 and preferably formed integral therewith isarranged an anvil 12 which is provided with a small projection or firingpin 13. In the wall of the casing is formed a groove 14 which is closedat its outer end and a groove 15 which is open at its outer end and thegrooves 14 and 15 are connected by a groove 16. A block 17 is arrangedto slide freely in the casing 7 and in the bottom of the block is formeda cartridge receiving opening 18. A passageway 19 extends in from theside of the block and communicates with the opening 18 so as to allowthe escape of the products generated by the firing ofthe cartridge. Asmall opening 20 is also formed in the outer end of the block whichpermits of the insertion of a piece of wire or other instrument fordislodging the shell of the cartridge in case it becomes fastened in theblock. On the lower end of the block is arranged a locking lug 21 whichis arranged to be inserted through the mouth of the groove 15 and byturning the block the projection is caused to travel through the groove16 and enter the slot 14 and will then look the block in the casingwhile leaving it free to move or slide therein. A coil spring 22 isarranged within the casing and normally holds the block out of contactwith the anvil.

The method of using the device is as follows,A cartridge is placed inthe opening in the block and the block is then inserted in the casingand bolted therein by means of the lug 21 on the said block. To explodethe cartridge the upholstered face of the head is brought into contactwith some relatively stationary object and the sudden stopping thereofcauses the blocx to move in thereby bringing the cartridge into contactwith the firing pin on the anvil and the cartridge is exploded.

The padding on the head of the paddle prevents the object which isstruck by the paddle from being in any way injured or abraded andtherefore my device is par-. ticularly adapted for use during thepreliminary or humorous proceedings in connection with the initiation ofa candidate-in a fraternal society or lodge, as the paddle can bebrought in contact with the body of the candidate with sufficient forceto cause the explosion of the cartridge without bruising the body orcausing more than a temporary shock.

What I claim is,-

1. The combination of a paddle having cushioning means arranged on oneface thereof, a casing set into the opposite face, an anvil arranged inthe bottom of said casing, a cartridge-carrying block arranged to slidein said casing and come in contact with said anvil and means forremovably securing said block in said casing.

2. The combination of a paddle having an upholstered face, a casing setinto the opposite face of said paddle and provided with communicatinggrooves, one of which is closed at its outer end, a cartridge-carryingblock arranged to slide in said casing and provided with a lug arrangedto travel in said grooves, an anvil arranged in the bottom of saidcasing, a firing pin mounted on said anvil so as to come in contact withthe cartridge carried by said block, and a spring ar- 4 ranged betweenthe block and the bottom of said casing so as to normally hold the blockabove said anvil.

3. The combination of a paddle having cushioning means arranged on oneface thereof, a casing set into the opposite face of said paddle andprovided with an annular flange arranged to abut against the surfacethereof, said casing having on its inner surface a straight groove whichis closed at its outer end and an inclined groove which is open at itsouter end and communicates with said straight groove, means for securingsaid flan e to said paddle, a cartridge-carrying blocT provided with alug arranged to travel in said grooves, an anvil arranged in the bottomof said casing, a firing pin formed on said anvil and means forresiliently holding said block out of contact with said anvil.

4. The combination of a paddle having an upholstered face,-a casing setinto the opposite faceof said paddle and provided with communicatinggrooves, one of which is closed at its outer end; a cartridge carryingblock arranged to slide in said casing and provided with a lug arrangedto travel in said grooves and provided with a cartridge re ceivingopening at its lower end and a pas sage-way which extends through saidblock and communicates with the cartridge receiving opening, an anvilarranged in the bottom of said casing, a firing pin mounted on saidanvil so as to come in contact with the cartridge carried by said blockand a spring ar ranged between said block and the bottom of said casing,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I sign the foregoing specification, in thepresence of two witnesses.

CHARLES B. POST.

Witnesses:

EDWARD B. OAssATT, E. A. MOCORMIOK.

